The Federal Government, on Thursday, arraigned suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on charges of alleged criminal defamation.
The lawmaker appeared before Justice Chizoba Orji on a three-count charge bordering on alleged defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
The charges stemmed from public statements allegedly made by the Senator, including claims that the two high-profile politicians conspired to have her assassinated.
One of the counts accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of stating during a televised interview that, “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night to eliminate me.”
She was also quoted as saying, “Let’s ask the Senate President, why in the first instance did he withdraw my security, if not to make me vulnerable to attacks? He then emphasized that I should be killed, but I should be killed in Kogi.”
According to the charge sheet, the Federal Government alleged that the statements constituted an “imputation made knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” in violation of Section 391 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990. The offence is punishable under Section 392 of the same law.
In another count, the Senator was accused of making defamatory remarks about Akpabio during a telephone conversation with one Sandra C. Duru in Abuja on or about March 27, 2025.
Security was visibly tightened around the court premises as supporters gathered in solidarity with the embattled female lawmaker. Among those present were her husband Emmanuel Uduaghan, former Minister of Education Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, and renowned activist Aisha Yesufu.
The list of prosecution witnesses included both Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Governor Yahaya Bello, indicating their likely appearance in the trial.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was yet to issue a formal statement in response to the charges.
The case was adjourned for further hearing on a date yet to be disclosed at press time.
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